Best Lugia Cards to Grade
The Lugia cards worth grading, ranked by expected profit per submission — every grade outcome weighted by how often the card actually receives it — after current grading fees. The PSA 10 best case is shown on every row but does not decide the order. Top pick: Lugia (Aquapolis) at an expected +$3,014.
Worth grading29
With a gem-rate sample2793%
Positive expected value23
Median gem rate16%
PSA fees as of2026-08-26
Ranked by expected profit 27
| # | Card | Raw | PSA 9 | PSA 10 | Cost | Best case | Gem rate | Expected | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Expected +$3,014 per submission: 4.3% of 3,204 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($81,130), and a PSA 9 ($13,200) still clears the $10,357 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $6,527 | $13,200 | $81,130 | $3,830 | +$70,773 | 4.3% | +$3,014 | 3,204 high |
| 2 | Expected +$1,079 per submission: 3.8% of 1,864 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($14,900), and a PSA 9 ($5,988) still clears the $2,508 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $1,340 | $5,988 | $14,900 | $1,168 | +$12,392 | 3.8% | +$1,079 | 1,864 high |
| 3 | Expected +$901 per submission: 1.5% of 1,297 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($7,800), and a PSA 9 ($4,200) still clears the $1,455 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $758 | $4,200 | $7,800 | $697 | +$6,345 | 1.5% | +$901 | 1,297 high |
| 4 | Expected +$685 per submission: 16% of 3,015 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($4,500), and a PSA 9 ($606) still clears the $614 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $200 | $606 | $4,500 | $414 | +$3,886 | 16% | +$685 | 3,015 high |
| 5 | Expected +$419 per submission: 32.6% of 2,296 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,975), and only a PSA 10 covers the $486 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $297 | $325 | $1,975 | $189 | +$1,489 | 32.6% | +$419 | 2,296 high |
| 6 | Expected +$355 per submission: 55.1% of 44,972 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,350), and only a PSA 10 covers the $616 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $503 | $515 | $1,350 | $113 | +$734 | 55.1% | +$355 | 44,972 high |
| 7 | Expected +$347 per submission: 1.5% of 891 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($8,558), and a PSA 9 ($1,225) still clears the $858 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $153 | $1,225 | $8,558 | $705 | +$7,699 | 1.5% | +$347 | 891 high |
| 8 | Expected +$274 per submission: 0% of 221 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($5,040), and a PSA 9 ($3,201) still clears the $1,225 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $556 | $3,201 | $5,040 | $669 | +$3,814 | 0% | +$274 | 221 high |
| 9 | Expected +$272 per submission: 26.4% of 1,992 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,500), and only a PSA 10 covers the $267 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $152 | $175 | $1,500 | $115 | +$1,233 | 26.4% | +$272 | 1,992 high |
| 10 | Expected +$231 per submission: 2.9% of 1,305 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($5,025), and a PSA 9 ($977) still clears the $887 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $218 | $977 | $5,025 | $669 | +$4,138 | 2.9% | +$231 | 1,305 high |
| 11 | Expected +$218 per submission: 24.3% of 432 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($940), and a PSA 9 ($180) still clears the $129 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $20 | $180 | $940 | $109 | +$810 | 24.3% | +$218 | 432 high |
| 12 | Expected +$162 per submission: 1% of 1,367 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,053), and a PSA 9 ($1,418) still clears the $472 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $282 | $1,418 | $2,053 | $190 | +$1,581 | 1% | +$162 | 1,367 high |
| 13 | Expected +$160 per submission: 29.8% of 1,670 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($752), and only a PSA 10 covers the $134 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $26 | $80 | $752 | $108 | +$619 | 29.8% | +$160 | 1,670 high |
| 14 | Expected +$124 per submission: 5.9% of 389 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,605), and a PSA 9 ($190) still clears the $431 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $36 | $190 | $2,605 | $395 | +$2,174 | 5.9% | +$124 | 389 high |
| 15 | Expected +$94 per submission: 11.5% of 589 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($988), and a PSA 9 ($130) still clears the $133 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $23 | $130 | $988 | $110 | +$855 | 11.5% | +$94 | 589 high |
| 16 | Expected +$84 per submission: 36.7% of 1,576 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($425), and only a PSA 10 covers the $110 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $36 | $63 | $425 | $74 | +$315 | 36.7% | +$84 | 1,576 high |
| 17 | Expected +$75 per submission: 0.1% of 11,630 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($11,263), and a PSA 9 ($2,640) still clears the $1,718 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $586 | $2,640 | $11,263 | $1,132 | +$9,546 | 0.1% | +$75 | 11,630 high |
| 18 | Expected +$72 per submission: 13% of 638 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($775), and a PSA 9 ($160) still clears the $154 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $46 | $160 | $775 | $108 | +$621 | 13% | +$72 | 638 high |
| 19 | Expected +$65 per submission: 24.7% of 1,402 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($525), and only a PSA 10 covers the $115 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $50 | $525 | $105 | +$410 | 24.7% | +$65 | 1,402 high |
| 20 | Expected +$50 per submission: 49.3% of 2,189 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($250), and only a PSA 10 covers the $89 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $17 | $38 | $250 | $72 | +$161 | 49.3% | +$50 | 2,189 high |
| 21 | Expected +$39 per submission: 1.3% of 473 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($682), and a PSA 9 ($500) still clears the $133 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $26 | $500 | $682 | $107 | +$549 | 1.3% | +$39 | 473 high |
| 22 | Expected +$21 per submission: 66.3% of 6,919 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($164), and only a PSA 10 covers the $100 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $28 | $39 | $164 | $72 | +$64 | 66.3% | +$21 | 6,919 high |
| 23 | Expected +$6 per submission: 53.5% of 3,356 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($155), and only a PSA 10 covers the $92 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $20 | $31 | $155 | $72 | +$64 | 53.5% | +$6 | 3,356 high |
| 24 | Expected loss −$2 per submission: 50.4% of 5,052 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($180), and only a PSA 10 covers the $113 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $41 | $45 | $180 | $72 | +$67 | 50.4% | −$2 | 5,052 high |
| 25 | Expected loss −$12 per submission: 65.5% of 5,491 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($128), and only a PSA 10 covers the $107 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $36 | $32 | $128 | $71 | +$21 | 65.5% | −$12 | 5,491 high |
| 26 | Expected loss −$17 per submission: 48% of 2,354 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($104), and only a PSA 10 covers the $78 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $7 | $28 | $104 | $71 | +$26 | 48% | −$17 | 2,354 high |
| 27 | Expected loss −$34 per submission: 1% of 387 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($320), and a PSA 9 ($108) still clears the $108 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $35 | $108 | $320 | $73 | +$212 | 1% | −$34 | 387 high |
Best case only — no gem-rate evidence 2
Fewer than 10 graded copies in the PSA and CGC population reports. They clear the grading cost if they gem — that is all the numbers support.
| # | Card | Raw | PSA 9 | PSA 10 | Cost | Best case | Gem rate | Expected | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | $110 | — | $2,484 | $194 | +$2,180 | — | — | none <10 | |
| 29 | $39 | — | $700 | $107 | +$554 | — | — | none <10 |
Expected = every grade outcome weighted by its share of the card's graded population, minus the raw price and the grading cost (PSA tier fee for the graded value plus ~$20 round-trip shipping, fees as of 2026-08-26). Best case is the PSA 10 leg alone. Gem rates come from a self-selected population — collectors grade their cleanest copies — so read them as an upper bound. Raw is a blended market price, not a sale of your copy. Full method and filters on the grading index.